For years, neuroscientists have puzzled over how two abnormal proteins, called amyloid and tau, accumulate in the brain and damage it to cause Alzheimer's disease. Which one is the driving force behind dementia? The answer: both of them, according to a new study.. (read more at Science Daily)

For families with aging parents, the prospect of paying for senior care can be daunting. With many unknown variables, it’s impossible to calculate precisely how much money parents will need to live out their golden years in comfort—which makes budgeting for long-term care challenging. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to come up with some type of payment plan for your parent’s senior care.(read more at Care2)

That pang in the middle of your chest when you feel lonely may not just be in your head. Researchers reported in the journal Heart this week that poor social relationships could actually hurt your heart..(read more at Washington Post)

Participating in a clinical trial or study helps medical researchers find new ways to treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other diseases, and could help future generations lead healthier lives. Here are some listings:

CONNECT~AZD0530 (saracatinib) was originally developed as a cancer therapy but may hold greater promise as an Alzheimer's treatment. In this Phase II clinical trial, participants will be randomly assigned to take either the oral study drug or a placebo for 1 year. The study requires at least four visits during screening and 13 or 14 visits during the treatment period. Learn more...

A4~The A4 study is a Phase III clinical trial for cognitively normal older adults whose brain scans show evidence of amyloid buildup, which places them at risk for memory loss and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease. The study will test the safety and efficacy of solanezumab, a monoclonal antibody, to see if it slows memory and cognitive decline and affects the buildup of amyloid plaques, as shown by brain imaging and other biomarkers. Participants will take either the study drug or a placebo as a monthly intravenous infusion for 3 years.Learn more...

The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN). DIAN is an international research partnership of leading scientists determined to understand a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that is caused by a gene mutation. Learn more..

LEFFTDS~This observational study will enroll people from families affected by familial frontotemporal dementia. At least one relative must have a known mutation in the MAPT, PGRN, or C9ORF72 genes. Learn more...

Birds have excellent vision and see colors very well, even better than humans' vision, but how can backyard birders take advantage of birds' color sense? Choosing the best colors to attract birds can add beauty to the backyard and encourage more species to visit. Adding colorful plants to your yard will help attract birds. Color is important to many bird species, and they rely on color clues in their environment.

Bright plumage colors indicate a mature, healthy bird that will be a strong mate. Brightly colored fruit is ripe and ready to eat at the peak of its nutritious content. Bright flowers are filled with nectar and will attract insects for another food source.

Different birds are attracted to different colors. Individual bird species may see the “best” colors as indicating a food source, or they may be more attracted to the colors of their own plumage as those could indicate a potential mate or another bird that is surviving well. Most bright colors, however, can be used to attract birds, with certain bird species being more attracted to particular shades.

One color, in particular, should be avoided as much as possible – white signals alarm, danger and aggression to many birds and adding a lot of white to the backyard will not attract birds, but will warn them away.

There are many ways to add both natural and artificial color sources to your backyard to attract birds to the beautiful shades. Birdscaping with colorful flowers, trees, shrubs, vines and grasses is one of the best options, and many plants that have these bright colors will also provide food, shelter and nesting sites, making them even more useful for bird-friendly landscaping. It does not take much color to attract birds, but be sure the colorful accents will be visible from the sky. A beautiful piece of color hidden under a thick tree or deep inside bushes will not attract as many birds as one that will be visible as they fly nearby. Similarly, avoid colorful objects that move frequently, such as spinning pinwheels, flags or windsocks, because the constant movement can scare away birds that are not used to the area.

While color can attract birds to the backyard, it is important to understand that color alone will not keep birds visiting. Use color to catch birds' attention, but provide good food, fresh water, secure shelter, nesting sites and bird-friendly landscaping to encourage birds to stay, and you'll find that their plumage adds an even more welcome touch of color to your yard.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —
And sings the tune without the words —
And never stops — at all —

And sweetest — in the Gale — is heard —
And sore must be the storm —
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm —

I've heard it in the chillest land —
And on the strangest Sea —
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb — of Me.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Divide the dough into 4 pieces on a floured surface. Brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Stretch the dough into four 6-inch rounds; place on the baking sheet and bake until golden, about 12 minutes.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Toss the ramps or scallions with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with kosher salt. Saute until just wilted, about 1 minute. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into pieces.
Mix the ricotta, lemon zest, the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and some sea salt and pepper in a bowl. Brush the crusts with olive oil (this will protect them from getting soggy), then spread with the ricotta mixture and season with sea salt. Top with the ramps or scallions. Return to the oven until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Top the pizzas with basil, parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

Trivia Challenge:

1. What four elements should you offer in your backyard to attract birds?

2. What bird feeder would you use to attract hummingbirds?

3. What seeds are the most popular among all seed-eating birds?

Participate by emailing your answers to contact@alzstore.com and include your first name, city & state where you live to be in the running to win a gift certificate to The Alzheimer's Store!

> In the book, 'Cat's Cradle' by Kurt Vonnegut, who does the author designate to be the smartest character in the book and why?

Music therapy for dementia patients boosts their memories by listening to their favorite songs. Be sure to take a peek at our most popular Music Players~Item #2115

We have designed the shopping experience of our store to make it easier for the Alzheimer's & dementia communities to find the products they need for their patients and loved ones.

You can choose to shop either by Stages (Early, Middle, Late), by Category, by browsing our entire store, or by our most popular products.

An estimated 47 million people globally have Alzheimer's disease and that number is projected to triple by 2050. According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are some things you can do to keep memory loss at bay such as exercise, education, not smoking, getting adequate sleep, staying socially engaged, learning new things, taking care of your mental health and eating a healthy diet.The Alzheimer's Store is here to assist you, the caregiver, in this quest with products that will benefit your loved ones quality of life and make each day manageable for you & less stressful for them....

The Alzheimer's Store researches products that can assist caregivers in the daily management of their loved one who has Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias. We feel the products offered on our website help to reduce anxiety and agitation, a common side effect of the disease. If you have any products that you feel would be beneficial to the Alzheimer & dementia community, we encourage you to share them with us.